Putna: Monasteries, Traditions and Via Transilvanica

The Bukovina section of Via Transilvanica begins in Putna, more precisely at Mănăstirea Putna, and heads towards the Sucevița Depression. The Bukovina section is 144 kilometres long. Mănăstirea Putna is an Orthodox monastery and one of Romania’s most important cultural, religious and artistic centres.

Culture

Mănăstirea Putna was built by Ștefan cel Mare between 1466 and 1469. The medieval museum of Mănăstirea Putna preserves manuscripts, embroideries from the monastery’s workshops, church and educational books, ecclesiastical treasures and ceramic objects.

The wooden church „Intrarea Maicii Domnului în Biserică“, also known as the „Dragoș Vodă“ wooden church or Schitul Putna, is traditionally dated to the middle of the 14th century. Today, this wooden church serves as a chapel and museum. The Biserica „Nașterea Maicii Domnului“ in Putna was built between 1900 and 1908 by Romanian Orthodox believers from the locality with the support of the Bukovina Ecclesiastical Fund.

The original Biserica „Bunavestire“ of Mănăstirea Sihăstria Putnei was built between 1754 and 1758. During restoration work, it was completely rebuilt from 1990 to 1996 and consecrated on 29 September 1996. The Biserica „Bunavestire“ houses a reliquary containing the relics of the venerable abbots Sila, Natan and Paisie.

Spirituality

Mănăstirea Sihăstria Putnei comprises four places of worship: the two small chapels „Sfântul Ioan Evanghelistul“ and „Acoperământul Maicii Domnului“, the Biserica „Buna Vestire“ and the large church „Izvorul Tămăduirii“. Pilgrims visit Mănăstirea Sihăstria Putnei because of the church services celebrated there.

The Biserica „Acoperământul Maicii Domnului“, also called „Biserica de la izvor“, is located on the left, 200 metres before the entrance to Mănăstirea Sihăstria Putnei. Next to the Biserica „Acoperământul Maicii Domnului“ is Izvorul Starețului Sila, which many believers visit to collect blessed water.

In honour of the founder, a special military ceremony takes place within the walls of Mănăstirea Putna on 2 July; it has already become a tradition. Decorating eggs, „Închistritul ouălor“, is a tradition known in Putna since ancient times. When decorating the eggs, the craftswomen use a simple tool made by each craftswoman herself, known locally as a „chișiță“.

Landscape

Chilia lui Daniil Sihastrul is a grotto carved into a rock in the valley of the Vițău stream, about 1 kilometre from Mănăstirea Putna. The pronaos, naos and altar of a chapel carved into the rock are still visible in the grotto. Below this chapel is a cell also carved into the stone.

Poiana Sihăstriei is a broad, bright clearing.

Routes

Mănăstirea Putna is about 1.5 kilometres from Putna railway station. The distance between Mănăstirea Putna and Mănăstirea Sihăstria Putnei is 3.7 kilometres and can be covered on foot.

To the higher-level travel overview: Comuna Putna.